Terminal and method for executing function using human body communication

PRIORITY

p-0002This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to an application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 18, 2009, and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0043070, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00031. Field of the Invention

p-0004The present invention relates generally to a method and a terminal for executing a function using human body communication, and more particularly, to a terminal and method for recognizing a signal detected through human body communication as a signal input to execute a specific function, and executing the specific function.

p-00052. Description of the Related Art

p-0006Communications may be largely classified into wired communications using wired media, such as a cable, and wireless communications using wireless media, such as communications performed over-the-air or through a vacuum. Recently, developments in human body communication using a human body as communication medium have been progressing in various countries such as Japan or Germany.

p-0007Human body communication is similar to communication methods such as wireless mobile communications (e.g., BLUETOOTH® wireless communications, ZIGBEE® wireless communications, etc.), but includes transmission and reception of data via direct contact with a human body without using Radio Frequency (RF) communications. A fundamental concept of the human body communication is described as follows with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

p-0008<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram illustrating an example of human body communication.

p-0009Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a controlled terminal <b>150</b> and a control terminal <b>200</b> are mounted to contact with a human body <b>100</b>. If a user inputs a given pressure or a command signal in the control terminal <b>200</b>, the control terminal <b>200</b> transfers an input signal to the controlled terminal <b>150</b> through a human body <b>100</b>. The controlled terminal <b>150</b> detects the signal transferred through the human body <b>100</b>, and executes an operation corresponding to the detected signal.

p-0010As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, human body communication is comprised of a receiving end receiving a signal like the controlled terminal <b>150</b> and a transmitting end transmitting the signal like the control terminal <b>200</b>. A human body <b>100</b> is located between the receiving end and the transmitting end, and performs a channeling function for transmitting and receiving the signal. Here, the human body <b>100</b> functions as a capacitor.

p-0011In recent years, transmission and reception data speeds for human body communication have gradually increased. Power consumption required to perform human body communication is significantly less than power consumption required for wireless communications, such as through Bluetooth. Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for executing various functions in a terminal using human body communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0012The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a method and a terminal for executing a function using human body communication.

p-0013In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method for executing a function of a terminal according to data transmitted and received through a human body is provided. The method includes detecting a touch in a human body communication signal input unit, wherein the human body communication signal input unit is in a human body communication key mode; determining a number detected touches and determining a number pulse signals transmitted during a time in which the touch is maintained when the touch is detected; and executing a function corresponding to the human body communication signal.

p-0014In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a terminal for executing a function is provided. The terminal includes a human body communication signal input unit for detecting a touch corresponding to a human body communication signal; a human body communication signal checking unit for determining a number of detected touches and a number of times pulse signals are transmitted during a time in which the touch is maintained, when the touch is detected; and a controller for executing a function corresponding to the checked human body communication signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0015The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a view illustrating a concept executing human body communication;

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a human body communication signal checking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a human body transmitting unit and a human body receiving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0020<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a diagram illustrating signal flow between a human body transmitting unit and a human body receiving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0021<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a diagram illustrating a human body communication signal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

p-0022<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a diagram illustrating a method for executing a function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

p-0023Embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same or similar reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

p-0024As used herein, term “terminal” refers to a device that may generate and exchange data with an external device such as Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a computer, or a notebook computer. Terminals according to embodiments of the present invention further include a device that can at least partially contact a user's body to transmit and receive an electric signal.

p-0025<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

p-0026Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, a terminal <b>200</b> includes a wireless communication unit <b>210</b>, a storage unit <b>220</b>, a controller <b>230</b>, a human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b>, a display unit <b>250</b>, a human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>, and an audio processing unit <b>270</b>. In the present example, the terminal <b>200</b> is a portable terminal. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the terminal <b>200</b> may be any one of various types of devices capable of executing human body communication, and transmitting and receiving data.

p-0027The wireless communication unit <b>210</b> executes a communication function between the terminal <b>200</b> and a base station. The wireless communication unit <b>210</b> includes an RF transmitter for up-converting the frequency of a signal to be transmitted and amplifying the signal, and an RF receiver low-noise for amplifying a received signal and down-converting the frequency of the amplified signal. The wireless communication unit <b>210</b> can also transmit and receive to and from an external terminal connected thereto by a wireless means.

p-0028The storage unit <b>220</b> stores application programs related to functions executed by the terminal <b>200</b> and various data generated upon execution of the functions. Signals input from a user through human body communication and tables mapped to various functions to be executed according to the signals input through the human body communication may be stored in the storage unit <b>220</b>. For example, the signals input through human body communication may be mapped to functions to be executed according to Table 1.

p-0029<tables id="TABLE-US-00001" num="00001"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="6"><colspec colname="offset" colwidth="56pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="1" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="3" colwidth="42pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="4" colwidth="49pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="5" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><thead><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="5" rowsep="1">TABLE 1</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="5" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row><row><entry /><entry>Short</entry><entry>Short</entry><entry>Short</entry><entry>Long once,</entry><entry>Long</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>once</entry><entry>twice</entry><entry>three times</entry><entry>Short twice</entry><entry>twice</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="5" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry /></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="6"><colspec colname="1" colwidth="56pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="3" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="4" colwidth="42pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="5" colwidth="49pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="6" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><tbody valign="top"><row><entry>Power on/off</entry><entry>0</entry><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry>Search</entry><entry /><entry>0</entry></row><row><entry>telephone</entry></row><row><entry>dictionary</entry></row><row><entry>Search</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>0</entry></row><row><entry>message</entry></row><row><entry>Re-</entry><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry>0</entry></row><row><entry>transmission</entry></row><row><entry>Execute DMB</entry><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry>0</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="6" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p-0030Executable functions mapped according to human body communication signals stored in the storage unit <b>220</b> may include any of various functions executed in the terminal <b>200</b>, such as a camera function, an Internet function, and a calling function. The executable functions mapped according to human body communication signals may be directly set by a user, and/or may be optionally set at the time of manufacturing the terminal <b>200</b>. Functions mapped according to the length of a human body communication signal and/or the number of times a human body communication signal has been provided as input can be stored according to a user's selection and/or a manufacturing company of the terminal <b>200</b>.

p-0031The controller <b>230</b> performs a function controlling the overall operation and states of the terminal <b>200</b>. In order to execute a function according to a human body communication signal, the controller <b>230</b> determines whether a communication key mode is set by a user. When the communication key mode is set, the controller <b>230</b> controls a human body communication checking unit <b>240</b> to detect a human body communication signal. Further, the controller <b>230</b> executes a function according to the detected human body communication signal.

p-0032The controller <b>230</b> may control the audio processing unit <b>270</b> to output an alarm for interpreting the detected human body communication signal. In the present example, the human body communication signal is interpreted as a key signal according to the length of the human body communication signal. When the human body communication signal is detected for a short time, the controller <b>230</b> controls the audio processing unit <b>270</b> to output a short sound such as ‘a short beep’. If the human body communication signal is detected for a long time, the controller <b>230</b> controls the audio processing unit <b>270</b> to output a long sound such as ‘a long beep’. Moreover, the controller <b>230</b> may output vibrations according to the interpreted the human body communication signal.

p-0033The human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> checks a key signal corresponding to the human body communication signal detected through the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>. The key signal is a signal mapped to execute a function according to the human body communication signal. Referring to Table 1, when the human body communication signal is detected once for a short duration, the human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> recognizes that the human body communication signal is a key signal input to turn power for a device on or off. In the present example, the human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> is included in the controller <b>230</b>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> may be included in the controller <b>230</b> or configured apart from the controller <b>230</b>. The human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> is described herein below with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 to 5</figref>.

p-0034The display unit <b>250</b> displays data related to overall states and operations of the terminal <b>200</b>. The display unit <b>250</b> may display a function executed according to a signal determined by the human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> under the control of the controller <b>230</b>.

p-0035The human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> may detect a human body communication signal transmitting and receiving data through a user's body. The human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> is located at a surface of the terminal <b>200</b> so that the user may easily touch the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>. For example, the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> may be located at a key or a display unit <b>250</b> of the terminal <b>200</b>. The human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> may detect a user's touch similar to an operation method for detecting touch through a touch screen. More specifically, when the user touches a surface of the terminal <b>200</b> where the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> is located, a change of a magnetic field or capacitance due to the touch of the user's body occurs on the surface of the terminal <b>200</b>. Accordingly, the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> may detect the user's touch through the changed magnetic field or capacitance.

p-0036The audio processing unit <b>270</b> outputs a voice signal from the controller <b>230</b> through a speaker or transfers a voice signal input from a microphone to the controller <b>230</b>. The audio processing unit <b>270</b> may output an alarm according to a human body communication signal detected in a human body communication key mode.

p-0037Hereinafter, the human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> for checking a human body communication signal input from the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> is described with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 to 6</figref>.

p-0038<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a human body communication signal checking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

p-0039Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> includes a human body communication transmitting unit <b>310</b> and a human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b>. In the present example, the human body communication transmitting unit <b>310</b> includes a human body communication signal generator <b>315</b> and a human body communication signal transmitter <b>317</b>. The human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b> includes a key signal checking section <b>325</b>.

p-0040When a user's touch is detected through the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>, the human body communication signal generator <b>315</b> outputs a pulse signal for as long as the touch is maintained (i.e., a touch maintenance time). Accordingly, the human body communication signal transmitter <b>317</b> loads data to be transmitted to the human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b> onto the output pulse signal. The human body communication signal transmitter <b>317</b> transmits the pulse signal, onto which the data has been loaded, to the human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b>. The data loaded onto the pulse signal may include data stored in the storage unit <b>200</b> such as music data, movie data, etc.

p-0041In a human body communication key mode, the human body communication signal transmitter <b>317</b> loads a pilot signal onto the pulse signal. The pilot signal is used for determining whether a human body communication signal is a short signal or a long signal (i.e., a signal having a short duration or a long duration, respectively). The pilot signal is a reference carrier wave for demodulation in the human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b> or a signal transmitted from the human body communication transmitting unit <b>310</b> for obtaining timing. A method for determining whether a human body signal is a short signal or a long signal according to the pilot signal loaded on the pulse is described herein below with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> below.

p-0042The human body communication transmitting unit <b>310</b> transmits a human body communication signal with a pilot signal to the human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b>. The human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b> checks a key signal corresponding to the human body communication signal received through a key signal checking section <b>325</b>. The key signal corresponding to the human body communication signal can be compared with data included in the table stored with respect to executable functions mapped according to human body signals and stored in the storage unit <b>220</b>. In order to check the key signal corresponding to the human body communication signal, the human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b> may check the transmission number of the pulse according to a user's touch number detected in the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> as well as according to the number of pulse signals including the pilot signal. The human body communication receiving unit <b>320</b> may check a key signal for executing a specific function through a transmission number of the detected pulse signal and a number of pulse signals using a previously stored table.

p-0043A signal exchange arrangement between a human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> and a human body receiving unit <b>320</b> is described as follows with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.

p-0044<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a human body transmitting unit and a human body receiving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

p-0045Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> and the human body receiving unit <b>320</b> are connected to each other through the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>. When a user touches the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>, an electric signal exchange path is formed between the human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> and the human body receiving unit <b>320</b>.

p-0046A signal exchange flow between a human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> and a human body receiving unit <b>320</b> is explained with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.

p-0047<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a view illustrating signal flow between a human body transmitting unit and a human body receiving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

p-0048Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> includes a transmitting capacitor C_Sand a receiving capacitor C_R. The human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> includes a transmission resistor R_TXand a human body communication signal generator <b>315</b> V(t) for generating a pulse signal. The human body receiving unit <b>320</b> includes a receiving resistor R_RX. When a user's touch is detected in the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>, power I(t) is applied between the human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> and the human body receiving unit <b>320</b>. Accordingly, the body communication signal generator <b>315</b> of the human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> outputs a pulse signal according to the power I(t). When a pilot signal is loaded onto the pulse signal from the body communication signal generator <b>315</b>, the human body transmitting unit <b>310</b> transmits a human body communication signal including the pilot signal to the human body receiving unit <b>320</b>. A determination of whether the human body communication signal is a short signal or a long signal is performed according to a number of pulse signals checked for a user's touch maintenance time detected in the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>. A determination of whether the human body communication signal is a short signal or a long signal is performed according to a number of times a user's touch is detected in the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>.

p-0049A method determining whether the human body communication signal is a short signal or a long signal is described as follows with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a diagram illustrating a human body communication signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

p-0050Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, when a user's touch is detected by the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b>, the body communication signal generator <b>315</b> outputs a pulse signal <b>610</b> having a given interval and size. In this example, even though a pilot signal is included in the pulse signal, an overall shape of the pulse signal is maintained. Accordingly, the human body receiving unit <b>320</b> may check the number of pulse signals on which the pilot signal is loaded, and determine the length of the human body communication signal according to the number of the pulse signals. For example, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, 3 pulse signals <b>620</b> can be recognized as a short human body communication signal, and 8 pulse signals <b>630</b> can be recognized as a long human body communication signal. The threshold number the pulse signals for discerning between short and long human body communication signals can change according to a user's selection or can be set by a manufacturing company of the terminal <b>200</b>.

p-0051A method for executing a function using a human body communication signal is described as follows with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>.

p-0052<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a diagram illustrating a method for executing a function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

p-0053Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, when a user selects a human body communication key mode, a controller <b>230</b> sets a human body communication key mode in step <b>710</b>. The controller <b>230</b> determines whether a user's touch is detected through a human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> in step <b>715</b>.

p-0054When the user's touch is detected, the controller <b>320</b> checks a human body communication signal according to the user's touch detected in step <b>720</b>. The human body communication signal can be checked according to a number of user touches detected in the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> and the number of pulse signals generated for a touch maintenance time, i.e., the controller <b>230</b> can determine whether the human body communication signal is a long human body communication signal or a short human body communication signal according to the number of the pulse signals. The threshold number of the pulse signals for determining whether the human body communication signal is long or short can be set in advance, such as at the time of the terminal is manufactured, or set by the user. A pilot signal included in the pulse signal, is used to determine the length of the human body communication signal. For example, when the user touches the human body communication signal input unit <b>260</b> twice, one touch may transmit <b>3</b> pulse signals, and pulse signals less than 8 pulses long may set to as short human body communication signals. Accordingly, the controller <b>230</b> may determine that a series 6 of pulse signals are received through the human body communication signal checking unit <b>240</b> and determine the series of 6 pulse signals as a short human body communication signal.

p-0055Next, the controller <b>730</b> checks a key signal corresponding to a human body communication signal in step <b>730</b>. The controller <b>230</b> executes a function according to the key signal checked in step <b>740</b>. For example, when a human body communication signal with 3 pulse signals is detected three times as the human body communication signal, the controller <b>230</b> compares the detected signal with a table stored in the storage unit <b>220</b>, such as in Table 1 above, and determines, as a result of the comparison, that the detected signal is a key signal for searching a message. Accordingly, the controller <b>230</b> displays the stored message on a display unit <b>250</b>.

p-0056Subsequently, the controller <b>230</b> determines whether the human body communication key mode has been terminated in step <b>750</b>. When the human body communication key mode has not been terminated, the controller <b>230</b> returns to step <b>715</b>.

p-0057When the user's touch is not detected in step <b>715</b>, the controller <b>230</b> waits for the user's touch input in step <b>760</b>. Then, the controller <b>230</b> checks whether the user's touch input occurs within a set time in step <b>770</b>. The set time can be determined, for example, according to a user's selection, or the time may be set when the terminal is manufactured. The set time is preferably about 1 minute. If the user's touch input occurs within the set time, the controller <b>230</b> returns to step <b>720</b>. Conversely, if the user's touch input does not occur within the set time, the controller <b>230</b> terminates the human body communication key mode in step <b>780</b>.

p-0058According to embodiments of the present invention, a terminal can execute various functions such as a menu section as well as a data transmission function according to a signal recognized using human body communication. Use of the present invention may broaden applications and utilization of human body communications that are conventionally limited to functions of transmitting and receiving data. Moreover, a user can conveniently select functions executed in the terminal using the human body communication.

p-0059Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.